Football: Controversy robs Pardew of opening Charlton win

LONDON : Alan Pardew was robbed of a winning start as Charlton manager when Fulham snatched a controversial injury-time goal in a 2-2 draw in the English Premiership on Wednesday.

Fulham were awarded a free-kick three minutes into time added-on after Djimi Traore was wrongly penalised for a hand ball.

Michael Brown quickly took the free-kick which landed kindly for Frank Queudrue to score and secure a point for the Cottagers.

Fulham had gone ahead in the 12th minute through Brian McBride, but Darren Ambrose fired Charlton level six minutes later before Darren Bent took advantage of a mix-up in the Fulham defence to slot home on the stroke of half-time.

But their hopes of a fourth win of the season were cruelly dashed by Queudrue's late leveller.

Details can be found here.

Chelsea Edge Wigan Thriller

Wigan gave mega-bucks Chelsea a run for their money in a JJB thriller, refusing to throw in the towel despite conceding twice in the opening half hour.

But Arjen Robben hit the winner two minutes into injury time to condemn unlucky Wigan to their fourth home defeat on the trot.

More details about the match between Wigan and Chelsea, click here for full report.

Yours truly,
Bryanseb

Arsenal Thrash Rovers

Arsenal has crashed Blackburn Rovers FC by 6-2... The Gunners went down in the 3rd minutes when Blackburn striker Nonda scored from a penalty.

Gilberto scored the equalizer when he manage to shot past Rovers keeper, Brad Friedel.

Arsenal took the lead when Bulgarian International, Alexandre Hleb.

Eventually, Arsenal when on and beat Blackburn 6-2 during the match itself.

Disaster for Blackburn Rovers and Mark Hughes.

Reed goes back to basics

Under-fire Charlton head coach Les Reed has vowed to take the Addicks back to their roots in the battle to beat the drop.

Reed saw supporters at The Valley turn on his Premiership strugglers after they were dumped out of the Carling Cup by League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night.

Chants of "you're not fit to wear the shirt" rang out during the 1-0 quarter-final defeat and Reed has promised to revitalise the ailing club by recapturing the traditions put in place by former boss Alan Curbishley.

"This is a club which for many years, to get into the position we are in now with the stadium and the Premiership, depended on developing our own players," said Reed.

"That was either through our youth system or through picking up players from lower division clubs or players who had been rejected elsewhere, working with them and turning them into better players.

"When you do that you develop a kind of kindred spirit amongst them.

"For years we did that and for years Curbs managed to get to a certain level in the Premiership and the next thing was how do we push on?

"The way forward then was to bring in more experienced players - players who had played at the top and to try and bring another element to the club to try to take it to the next level.

"Maybe what has happened in the last few years is that in doing that we have lost a little bit of that Charlton blood in the veins of the players.

"It is something I am very conscious of trying to do something about."

AJ accepts Jose's apology

Everton striker Andrew Johnson hopes his spat with Jose Mourinho is over after the Chelsea manager apologised for the comments he made after Sunday's match between the two sides.

Mourinho suggested the England international had tried to win a penalty by diving but has since retracted his accusations.

Johnson was happy with the former FC Porto manager's words, telling Everton's official website: "I'm pleased that Mr Mourinho has apologised for the comments he made.

"I have the utmost respect for both Chelsea Football Club and Mr Mourinho as a manager.

"Everton Football Club and myself can now concentrate on the games ahead. I'd like to thank Everton Football Club, my manager David Moyes, my team-mates and my agent for all their support. This is now the end of the matter."

Mourinho said in a statement on Wednesday: "First I would like to say I have the utmost respect for Everton Football Club, David Moyes and their players.

"That's why I love to play them, and especially at Goodison Park where the atmosphere is magnificent.

"Secondly, after the match, I was clear and said Andy Johnson is a great player and I never used aggressive words, like some managers did against my players in previous seasons, or like some others recently said about him and Ronaldo. I never used the word cheat.

"After seeing it again on the video, Mr Halsey did wonderful work and both decisions for penalties were correct.

"Did Andy Johnson try to avoid a collision with my goalkeeper? It seems now the answer to that is yes so Everton, his manager and he deserve my apologies."

Moyes: No way, Jose

Everton manager David Moyes slammed the reaction of his Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho following the Blues' 3-2 victory at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Mourinho angered Moyes by calling for Andrew Johnson to be booked over a first-half penalty claim by the Toffees striker.

Afterwards the Blues boss was still incensed by the incident and claiming the England striker should be "embarrassed" by the incident with goalkeeper Henrique Hilario.

However, Moyes strongly refuted the allegation and cited the incident involving Petr Cech earlier in the season when the goalkeeper suffered a fractured skull after a similar challenge with Reading's Stephen Hunt.

"It wasn't a penalty but it certainly wasn't a dive either," slammed the Everton boss.

"There was a big complaint earlier in the season because a player went into a goalkeeper, are we now saying they have to go into them? Make your mind up.

"By acting the way he did Jose probably did inflame the situation, but then he has a 15-stone striker up there who is quite partial to doing it himself."

Martins starting to shine

Newcastle United boss Glenn Roeder hailed the performance of two-goal hero Obafemi Martins in the 2-1 home victory over rock-bottom Watford.

The 22-year-old Nigeria international has now netted eight goals since his £10million arrival from Internazionale, with five of those strikes coming in his last four games.

A delighted Roeder beamed: "We saw the Oba Martins I have been telling you about for a long while and you will see plenty more. They were two magnificent finishes.

"It was just so pleasing when I wanted to buy him that the chairman found the money, because he was an expensive purchase.

"He obviously trusted my judgment with that. It is not relief, but it is pleasing to see him start scoring goals, which he has done over the last few games.

"Martins is an investment who will give us good service and that is the type of player this club must search for. He's got the attitude of a player who will keep improving.

"He is a lovely man and he has got something that I personally love in a human being, he has got humility. If you have got humility, it allows you to become better.

"Equally, it is very pleasing when you sign someone on a free transfer, like Antoine Sibierski, and watch him do so well."

Essien eyes Blues extension

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien says he is loving life at Stamford Bridge and would like to extend his contract with the Premiership champions.

The 24-year-old Ghana international joined the Blues in the summer of 2005 for £24million from French powerhouse Lyon and is under contract until the summer of 2010.

However, Essien is already eyeing an even longer time with Chelsea.

He told the Sunday Mirror: "I am very happy in England and love Chelsea. I'd be happy to stay longer than my current contract.

"I am enjoying my football and I'm playing for a great club, and with great players. All I have ever tried to do is work for the team.

"What I will say is that it does take time to adjust to football in England. It's so much faster and more physical than any other country.

"Maybe that was a problem for me at first, but I am used to it now."

Essien has made 68 appearances for the Blues, scoring five goals.

Henry targets Reds return

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry hopes to be back in action for the FA Cup third round clash with Liverpool in early January.

Henry has been sidelined since the end of November due to neck and hamstring problems, but the 29-year-old is eyeing a return for the Anfield showdown on Saturday January 6.

enry said in the programme notes for the 2-2 draw with Portsmouth: "The problem has been with my hamstring, a sciatic nerve.

"I have spoken to the boss about it and I think I will miss all of Christmas, but hopefully I can come back quickly in the New Year.

"It might be a nice way to come back against Liverpool in the FA Cup, but we will have to see, because it might be a bit afterwards.

"I have played a lot of games this year, but if I did not have my sciatic nerve bothering me, then I would be out there on the pitch now.

"I am never happy to miss one game, so when I know I am going to miss a month, I have to prepare myself. You have to accept sometimes it happens."

Pardew blasted by Tevez

West Ham United misfit Carlos Tevez has hit out at former Hammers boss Alan Pardew, who was sacked last week by the Premiership strugglers.

Tevez joined the Hammers at the end of August along with Javier Mascherano, but the Argentina duo have so far failed to make their mark.

However, Tevez - who has failed to score in 13 outings - believes that being played out of position has been his main problem.

He told the News of the World: "I was surprised to see how long Pardew held on to the job in the end.

"In Argentina or Brazil he would have been out long ago. It was clear the team did not react as he wanted, it wasn't going right.

"I was never given the chances I thought I would be given and I was told to play out of position against my will.

"I had to sacrifice myself for the team which I don't think helped. I was playing in ways I did not understand well and I lost a lot from my own game.

"It didn't fit where he put me, but I wanted to help."

Sheff Utd were honours at Braddell Lane

Neil Warnock

Sheffield United were again, gets an unexpected draw against Aston Villa. I'm sure Neil Warnock (above picture) will be a happy man.

The visitors hit the front at Bramall Lane after just over 60 seconds of the game, as the recalled Chris Sutton linked up with Stilian Petrov and the latter beat Paddy Kenny after his first effort had struck Leigh Bromby.

Scorers:
Sheffield United 2
Stephen Quinn 50th, Danny Webber 64th

Aston Villa 2
Stilian Petrov 2, Milan Baros 65th

Chelsea draw against Arsenal

An unexpected draw against Arsenal would be a great gift to Manchester united. Flamini scored for arsenal in the 78th minutes.

Lots of chances were played yesterday. Seems like both of the team were all miss.

Essien scored the equaliser on 84th minutes. Michael Essien spared Chelsea's blush as he manage to score the equaliser.

Now, Manchester United were leading 8 points of Chelsea.

Final result:
Arsenal 1
Chelsea 1

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